CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

9 Whatever happens or whatever the lawsuit is (2,3,4) 10 Portray as a salesman and you take exception to it (9) 12 Fish that’s the only one of its species? (4) 13 Though hateful, I do travel round America with (6) 14 What I think is good to stuff a vegetable with (7) 15 Making a lot more expensive than it should be? (7,2) 17 At producing an excuse for torn clothing, he’s very poor! (9) 18 Feeling is what returns first to me (7) 19 Determine on carrying a raid out (6) 20 Long to get at someone who’s swindled you? (4) 23 The money is most important (9) 25 Aware it’s a song I composed; can’t get round that (9) 26 Guards the homes (4) 27 Turning, stands right in the way (6) 29 The unsteady gait does surprise you (7) 32 And put on the primer badly, getting a rebuke (9) 34 Reduces or eradicates wrinkles (9) 35 A match? It’s paler (7) 36 The answer is, don’t stay away (6) 37 Get heated and point the gun at (4) 38 The devil’s own? (9) 39 Opposed to taking money from a rival (9)

DOWN

1 You might let it drop she won the efficiency contest (8) 2 Rang a bell, as the baby sitter did when she came round (6,2,4) 3 The horse I’d brought back by car is a bay (8) 4 Getting business in Peru, contrived to make good the losses (6) 5 Supposed to have p-picked up where one left off (8) 6 Giving the job to, after a gentle training (10) 7 Round about six, tries unsuccessfully to call again (7) 8 Don’t just sit there and let them pay the bill! (5,5) 11 The girl I caught in time (5) 16 It’s very cold when I do fall in, through stupidity (6) 19 Sly, trapping the bird unhurriedly (3) 21 Gets into someone else’s clutches when it’s sold (7,5) 22 A bad sailor going on a trip out East (6) 23 Sheet anchors (5,5) 24 Shows to be wrong and makes one understand it (4,6) 25 Wounded when you snub (3) 28 Where the doddering old dear with nothing became rich? (2,6) 29 Getting the gun, cries “Run!” (8) 30 The same silly boy is embracing her (8) 31 The daughter and I set it ineptly to music (7) 33 Leaves with the hotel employees (5) 34 Notice, in your Holmesian way (6)

FRIDAY’S SOLUTION

ACROSS: 1. S-too-p 6. C-omb-o. 9. Capt.-I-on 10. Level 11. Cur-ry 12. Parks 13. Torn out 15. Fir 17. Opus 18. SE-Rene 19. Scots 20. Clutch 22. Mona 24. H-is 25. Clean up 26. St-O-ol 27. Sprat 28. Dummy 29. Slander 30. Hy-the 31. Ne-igh DOWN: 2. Th-e top 3. Oceans 4. Pa-L 5. Stoa-t 6. Cock-les 7. O-nus 8. Berlin 12. Punch 13. Touch 14. RU-fus 15. F-elon 16. Recap 18. Still 19. Scuttle 21. L-imply 22. Mat-ur-e 23. Nutmeg 25. Count 26. S-ash 28. Den